Written Evidence submitted by the Police Federation of England and Wales
Right Stuff Summer Community Safety Boxing Programmes 2013 Evaluation
Executive Summary
The Right Stuff Project is a Young person’s voluntary organisation, which is supported by many partner organisations. The project is committed to working with young people from all backgrounds, to improve their life outcomes and promote a positive image of young people in the communities where they live. Bringing generation’s together and making communities feel safer. The project in particular targets young people involved in crime and anti social behaviour or at risk of engaging in such behaviour. It also works with adults in similar circumstances encouraging them to volunteer and mentor on the project.
The Right Stuff summer Community Safety Initiative 2013 aimed to meet 3 out of the 4 Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioners Safer , Fairer United Communities Priorities –
- Early Intervention
- Managing Offenders
- Public Confidence
Additionally it aligned in delivery to Staffordshire Police’s 2013-2018 Policing plan of keeping Communities safe and reassured by
- Deal with what matters to communities
- Prevent Crime and Disorder
- Provide Outstanding service
The project ran in two different locations. A project around promoting Racial Tolerance and community cohesion took place at Thistley Hough Academy, Penkhull, Stoke on Trent which ran Monday to Friday between 22nd July 2013 and 23rd August 2013. A second initiative around reducing Anti Social Behaviour in the Cannock area took place at Cannock Chase High School, Cannock from 29rd July 2012 to 23rd August 2013. The initiative was lead by Pc Andy Whitehall of Staffordshire Police. The aim of the Project was to provide a positive activity, Amateur boxing to engage young people aged 9-16 years old. Although the initiative was open to all young people between these ages a high proportion of the young people were targeted by the project in conjunction with other professional partners in an effort to address issues of ASB, criminality or other underlying detrimental life issues.
Partners involved
Thistle Hough High Academy Initiative
For the Thistley Hough High School Initiative the key partners were Staffordshire Police, Thistley Hough High School , Stoke On Trent City Council, Stoke On Trent Community Cohesion Team, The Co - Operative, Partners Assuring a Safer Staffordshire.
Cannock Initiative
For the Cannock Summer Imitative the key partners were Staffordshire Police, Families First, Cannock Targeted Youth Support, Cannock Chase High School, and Cannock Chase District Council.
Structure of Delivery Team
Pc Whitehall who works in the Safer Stronger Communities team and is also a qualified Level 2 Amateur Boxing Association Coach lead the project.
Thistle Hough High Academy Initiative
The delivery team at Thistley Hough Academy consisted of 6 Teaching staff (drawn from the schools Inclusion unit, PE Department and senior management Team) and 8 year 10 & 11 students who had attended a 1 day National Amateur Boxing Association Boxing Tutors course in June 2013, held in Stafford. The school funded all training of its staff and students.
The school team were complemented by 11 members of the Right Stuff Project this included 3 Amateur Boxing Association of England ( ABAE ) Assistant Coaches ( 2 were serving soldiers from the Royal Artillery Regiments of the British Army , who contributed their time whilst on 2 weeks leave from the Army ). The remaining 8 all held ABAE Boxing Tutor qualifications; several were First Aid Trained and ranged in age from 13-21 years old, and of mixed genders and ethnicities. Several had participated in delivering a similar project in the 6 week summer school holidays in Cannock in 2012. The idea being that the experience Right Stuff Staff provided a safety framework for the school and Police staff to put their training into practice and further develop their delivery skills, equally Right Stuff staff could learn from specialist teaching staff about how to engage young people and deal professionally with behavioural issues and understand policies and procedures within an educational setting.
Additionally several Safer Schools Police officers underwent the 1 day Boxing Tutors training course in June 2013 and assisted in delivery on individual days were duties permitted with a view to taking experience gained on the project back to their own schools so projects could be delivered in other safer schools High schools within Stoke on Trent.
Cannock Initiative
The delivery team at Cannock Chase High School consisted of 1 Teaching staff ( drawn from the schools Inclusion unit, ) and 6 year 9 -12 students who had attended a 1 day National Amateur Boxing Association Boxing Tutors course in June 2013, held in Stafford. Four of the Young Leaders had attended the 2012 Summer Scheme in Cannock as students themselves and had in the subsequent 12 months maintained attendance at a Right Stuff Boxing Gym in Huntington and also Right Stuff projects run at Cannock Chase High school in Curriculum time and as an after school club.
The school team were complemented by 4 members of the Right Stuff Project this included. These 4 held ABAE Boxing Tutor qualifications, several were First Aid Trained and ranged in age from 15-22 years old, and of mixed genders several had participated in delivering a similar project in the 6 week summer school holidays in Cannock in 2012. The idea being that the experience Right Stuff Staff provided a safety framework for the school and Police staff to put their training into practice and further develop their delivery skills, equally Right Stuff staff could learn from specialist teaching staff about how to engage young people and deal professionally with behavioural issues and understand policies and procedures within an educational setting.
Additionally Cannock Chase High Schools Safer Schools Police officer Pc Andrew Sheasby who had under gone the 1 day Boxing Tutors training course. Lead on the Cannock project for the four weeks that it ran.
The Delivery vehicle
The chosen delivery tool for the positive activity was the National Non Contact Boxing Awards. A scheme backed by the Amateur Boxing Association of England the National Governing body for Amateur Boxing, Sport England, ASDAN and GB Boxing; it offers a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness GCSE in Amateur Boxing. The first three levels Preliminary, Standard and Bronze awards were chosen as they were non contact suitable for age 5 years upwards and designed to be delivered in a community setting as well as a boxing Gymnasium. Each level is divided into eight 45 minute lesson plans with a practical and oral assessment at the end. Each level carried 1 ASDAN educational credit towards a Cope GCSE in Amateur Boxing. Students received a student book at the start of the scheme which covered all three awards , as well as boxing it gave information on healthy eating, hydration, advice about the negative effects of consumption of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
Although Amateur Boxing was the chosen engagement tool the purpose of the two projects was in the case of the Thistley Hough High School project to promote racial tolerance and community cohesion within the school and surrounding community. In the case of the Cannock project the aim was to target individuals with a view to reducing Anti Social Behaviour. To achieve these objectives the following processes were used
Thistle Hough High Academy Initiative
Twice weekly inputs were delivered to students of 30 minutes duration by selected guests from the following organisations and community groups - Stoke on Trent City Council Community Cohesion team, The Hebrew Congregation of Stoke on Trent, Local Christian faith groups and representative from the Kurdish Community . Additionally lectures , inputs were given by teaching and police staff.
Cannock Initiative
Twice weekly inputs were delivered to students of 30 minutes duration by Police and Teaching Staff around Anti-Social Behaviour.
How the Initiative was promoted and young people selected
Thistle Hough Academy Initiative
In an effort to promote the initiative Pc Whitehall and several of his team carried out promotional assemblies in June and early July at Oak Hill Primary School, Etruscan Primary school and Thistley Hough High School. Additionally Thistley Hough High School Teaching staff approached additional Primary schools The Willows, St John Fisher, St Marks Primary,
A radio Interview was also carried out by Pc Whitehall with BBC Radio Stoke to promote the programme and articles appeared in Thistley Hough school newsletter. This resulted in students attending from 11 different Stoke on Trent Schools.
Cannock Initiative
In an effort to promote the initiative Pc Whitehall and several of his team carried out promotional assemblies in June and early July at Cannock Chase High School, Additionally two presentations to the three Cannock Chase Local Support Teams Families First, was also carried out. This resulted in a high proportion of targeted referrals from Cannock Targeted Youth Support, Parent Support Workers, Family Support Workers, Education Welfare Officers and Safeguarding Teams. Additionally to this Pc Sheasby made contact with local Neighbourhood Policing Teams for Cannock outlining the scheme and requesting referrals.
The scheme and Statistics
Thistley Hough Academy
65 young People attended
29 male (55%)
36 female (45%)
65 Young People passing Preliminary Award
50 Young People Passing Standard Award
45 Young People Passing Bronze Award
Cannock Initiative
50 young People attended
32 male (64%)
18 female (36%)
40 Cannock areas (80%)
10 Rugeley area areas (20%)
48 Young People passing Preliminary Award
40 Young People Passing Standard Award
32 Young People Passing Bronze Award
Community Projects Undertaken
Penkhull, Stoke on Trent, Community Litter Pick = 2 hours / 35 young people/ 12 sacks of Garden rubbish.
Chadsmoor, Cannock Community Litter Pick = 2 hours / 30 young.
Charity Food bank bag pack , Sainsbury’s, Stoke Town centre= 2hours / 33 young people £160 raised to donate to local food bank and substantial food donated as well to be donated to food bank.
Stoke Town Centre, Litter pick = 1 hour/ 8 young people 4 sacks of rubbish collected.
Charity sponsored Sparathon, Thistley Hough High School, Stoke on Trent = 4 hours / 45 young people. £130 raised for Changes a local charity working with young people in mental distress.
Feedback
Below is a letter of appreciation from Holly Hartley Head teacher at Thistley Hough Academy.
Below is a copy of a text received from a parent who had three children attending the summer programme-
“One word. Grateful. Totally awesome evening tonight. So proud of all three in very different ways. Would it be okay to ring you in the week regarding where to take them to carry this on? Would love to also get your run down on the three of them. All the lifts for Moo were very much appreciated and a big thanks you to Sophie for most of them. I did send her flowers. Well done Andy your efforts were well and truly appreciated. Thank you xxx if you ever need a letter of thanks let me know, will gladly write one”
Legacy and sustainability
Thistley Hough Academy
Thistley Hough Academy held a celebration event on the Evening of Friday 23rd August 2013. The Event had African Drumming, Cultural food. It was attended by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Hifsa Iqbail, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Arnold, Chief Superintendent Juliet Prince, Shahzad Tahir and Iftikhar Ahmed Stoke on Trent Council Community Cohesion Team. A display was conducted by 45 students of their boxing skills and what they had learnt about racial tolerance, over 250 parents, relatives and guests attended the celebration event to support the students, and watch them receive their certificates and medals.
The Head teacher Holly Hartley has purchased a 16ft by 16ft Boxing ring and 50 pairs of Boxing Gloves, the programme has been written into the schools 3 year plan. Further funding is being sought with a view to also running a Saturday morning club at the school for students run by a combination of Right Stuff staff and trained staff from Thistley Hough. Four parents of students that attended the Summer Scheme have been identified as willing to attend Boxing Tutor courses and volunteer at the Saturday morning club which it is hoped will be established by 1st November 2013. It is already planned to run a 2014 Summer Scheme along the lines of this year’s successful project.
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Cannock Initiative
Cannock Chase High School is sending and funding teaching staff members on a Boxing Tutors course in October 2013 to sustain the project in the school. The current Inclusion Support manager at Cannock Chase High school has attended and passed a 4 day Assistant Amateur Boxing Coaches course and is now volunteering of an evening time at the Right Stuff Boxing club in Huntington delivering an all-female session which is a new addition to the offer to young people in the area at that site.
The Safer Schools Officer Pc Sheasby is planning an October 2013 half term initiative at the school looking to form a partnership with Staffordshire Fire Service, due to a recent increase in incidents of Arson in the Cannock area it is hoped to theme the week around educating young people around the dangers of fire setting and the criminality and consequences of Arson using the Boxing Awards programme and the Fire Services street stadia as engagement tools.
Also Building Resilient families and Communities Team at Rugeley who refereed several young people into the scheme have acquired funding to start up a volunteer Right Stuff Project in the Rugeley area which it is hoped will be running in early November 2013.
Pc Andy Whitehall
Safer Stronger Communities
Right Stuff Project Lead